Author's Note:

I am sorry this chapter is a bit fiddly and not brilliantly written 

For some reason these fiddly bits need to be fiddled with :D

No matter, on with the show….

*

"Is it true? Is she a descendent?"
"For all our sakes, Renata my dear, I hope that she is not..."
Chelsea pushed back against her armchairs leather and flung her legs forward, flying gracefully into an upright position.

Chelsea shifted and sighed, her boredom evident.

"I should have gone on a hunt earlier, I believe this will be a very long night!"
Renata felt uneasy, looking again from each to each and then finally throwing a sceptical look at an already dazed Chelsea, lost in a world beyond the Volterra walls were she was hunting free. Continuing to stare through the clouds to the cold, silvery moon, she strained to sense Aro, but he was cold as stone under her fingertips, the first place she would usually sense his feelings. Her eyes shone in the darkness as she guiltily listened to Aro's conversation with Marcus, occasionally glancing in their direction and, on receiving a stern look from Aro, looking back at the path of the stars in the night's sky. Chelsea had been trying to concentrate on the conversation without appearing to be too involved, every now and then examining a book among the thousands of shelves in this ancient library and sidling close to where Aro and Marcus were sitting. Finally returning to Renata and sitting down loudly in a chair, Chelsea had regurgitated any information that she had over heard.

The Volterra library was bathed in the grey moon's long and creeping rays, the golden titles of the books glinting in the light. Caius' collections ran along every wall, crisscrossing the large and heavily sealed room. The shutters had been opened wide to allow as much natural light in as possible before the sun broke the night's silence. Large, leather padded seats were placed in groups of three or four here and there and a long table sat along the wall by the large oak door at the far end, on which stood a thousand or more candles, some as big as Church candles, others tiny tea lights floating on rose petalled water. The room smelt of dust, of decay, the smell of time forever slowly passing mixed with the ancient, metallic smell of blood. The four slender figures rose in unison, forming a flock formation and exiting silently from the enclosed solace of the library without a word.

As they departed, Aro turned his head sharply to Renata, who started from the sudden attention.

"Renata, inform the coven that I wish a meeting, all must attend, is that understood?"

Renata simply nodded and swooped away, returning in equally quick time as she had left.

"They are formed in the hall, Aro, awaiting your further instruction."

Aro said nothing, but looked at Marius who merely nodded and quickened his pace to lead the group.

The light of the moon spread a ghost illumination through the hall, gleaming off the sallow skin and dark eyes of the congregation, dancing across the shining floors. Aro surveyed them all, taking in every face, mentally ticking off names.

"Where is Caius?"

"I am here!"

Caius had entered silently behind them, fresh from the feed.

"Good, then we shall begin. Tonight, we have been informed that rebels from the Romanian clan have apprehended members of the Cullen clan. This, if true, is an open call for war."

Caius then stood beside Aro, both looking sleek and powerful, with thin paper-white skin and large, black, shining eyes.

"We have all called the brothers to explain their clans open defiance of ancient law. They will be arriving shortly from Romania."

Aro acknowledged Caius and continued,

"Jane, you must travel to Forks and inform the Cullens of what is going on, I believe they are labouring under the misapprehension that Esme, The Mother and The Child are here in Volterra. They must be informed."

Jane simply nodded and, beckoning to two other vampires, swept from the room.

"We all must prepare for the Romanian clan. Go."

With these final words, all three elders exited the hall, leaving the assembly to mutter and organise. Renata stood at the door where Aro had departed, Chelsea close beside her.

"Aro did not say about the descendent…"

"Shush! I am sure there was good reason not to! This is a dangerous game she is playing. She is the last Draqul to walk the earth, if she wishes for war, then we are all in great danger!"

"The last…"

Renata slowly processed the information. Many decades before, the great war between the clan Draqul and the Volturi had been waged throughout Europe, the scale was immense, and many vampires fell. Some broke away from both families, living the Nomadic life that the Cullens had chosen. Others, like Sulpicia and Athenodora, had stayed, rising to the Elite. However all vampires of the Volturi were told from rebirth of the once all powerful who ruled over all vampires across the world. One vampire who changed the way that controlled all powers. Although the Volturi were great in number, if a living descendent survived, there would be a war to reinstate the ancient rule, and all creatures would be forced to obey they ancient order of the Dragon. Now Renata shivered, Aro was tense and she felt it keenly, but she had to remain where she was. There was much to discuss among the elders.

*

"Caius, share your thoughts…"

"I fear that it will not only be vampires who will fight in this war. We will need the child, much sooner than we expected. With Carlisle in England and the other Cullens in Forks there is a great gulf. The clan is broken by Esme's parting, that much is clear. They are defenceless and weak. I do not think the descendent knows of the power of the child. Let us hope that the ancient tales of a child of strength and will do not sway her."

Aro nodded, drawing himself to full height.

"Marius, what are your thoughts?"

Marius remained silently for a time, carefully arranging his answer.

"I believe that we should have paid attention sooner to this problem. I have always said the child should have been taken care of. I fear the worst. But there is more, which I wished to share with you both in private."

"We are here brother, what is it that you know?"

"I believe that Elizabeta, the descendent, has not only rallied a band of rebels and nomads together to create a force, but has also aligned herself with other magical beings. If she and they combine we will not stand a chance. These magical beings are fallen from the same tree as the Lord Voldemort. Aro, Caius, we swore we would not align ourselves with him once and in doing so we put our whole coven in danger. Now we are paying for that denial ten fold."

Caius grew angry, his sallow skin seemed to flash and his eyes glowered.

"What is the point Marius, what is this about?"

"I shall tell you, brother, be patient. From that world of magic there was a chosen one, as there now is in our world. A saviour, they called him, a small baby who ruined Voldemort. I have learnt that he was the one who finally vanquished him and has, since that time, been travelling across the world. Harry Potter. My intelligences have informed me that he is in grave danger…"

Marius seemed to force the last part,

"He has been found, and has connected, with a vampire. They were last seen in London."

"What! What vampire is this?"

Marius stared at Aro now, ignoring Caius' fury.

"The man is Carlisle Cullen. He was seen hunting, and what he was hunting was Harry Potter."

There was an acute silence, the room still as an icy lake. Aro and Caius looked at Marius in amazement.

"But Esme was Carlisle's mate, was she not? What would force such a radical change?"

Aro lent forward, clasping both hands together.

"Brothers, I do not know what is going on, but I ensure you, I will find out."